Page 130 of Believe it or Knot

“It’s relevant if you’re letting rumors of my personal life and relationship with Liam Cordova affect this case.” I am so freaking tired. So, so tired.

Detective Banks shifts again, turning to pierce his partner with a look. “That’s not what’s happening here, right, Kirkland?”

“Right,” she grits out. “I’m a professional.”

That she has to state that tells me all I need to know. Especially when she leans closer to me. “Now tell me the story again.”

Her use of the word ‘story’ is intentional. It implies fiction. “I’ve told you what happened twice now.” I glance up at the camera in the corner. “You have both of them recorded. If you need to refresh your memory, then why not watch it?”

Her mouth pulls into a tight frown, and Detective Banks sighs. “Just one more time, please, Miss Forbes.”

The door opens, and a stunning woman with red hair, wearing a turquoise pant suit with a black silk shirt underneath it, steps in under the watchful eyes of a uniformed police officer. She takes in the scene and then says firmly, “my client will not be saying anymore until I’ve had a chance to speak with her. Now please leave the room.”

Kirkland curses under her breath and then stands angrily from her chair, while Banks is slower to push up. “Of course, happy to oblige, Aurie.”

He really seems happy about it, too.

Nice guy that Banks.

His partner, on the other hand, looks like she’s sucked on a lemon.

Aurie waits until the door closes behind both of the detectives and then turns a smile on me. “Sorry it took so long,” she says, holding out her hand. “I’m Aurora Whitten. You can call me Aurie. Sylvie asked me to come.”

I nod and shake her hand. “Thank you for coming.”

She settles into the chair opposite me and then links her fingers together on the table. “I would have come sooner, but The Werth pack wanted me to get Sylvie out first.”

“Makes sense. She’s their omega.”

Aurie hums. “Omega or beta, she doesn’t deserve better treatment than you.”

I don’t deny that, but I’m also grateful that Sylvie is away from the station and likely at home being spoiled by her pack. She deserves it. “Do you know if Sadie is also done?”

Aurie shakes her head. “She was out before I was even called. The Falcone pack may be going legit, but they still aren’t buddy buddy with the police.”

I hum. So I’m the only one here. Which means I’m all alone again, except for Aurie, of course. But it’s not like she’s going to drive me an hour away to Lake Kilrose and my tiny cabin. I’m not even sure I want to go there, if I’m honest.

I don’t want to be in that kind of isolation, but I don’t really want to be with people.

I can still feel the panic at the realization that I was being followed, pedaling my bike faster to reach civilization, someone who could help me. The dark shadowy figure that leapt out from behind a tree and clothes-lined me.

Aurie reaches over and brushes her fingers over my hand. “I already got the story from Sylvie, and it’s late, so I won’t make you go over it with me now. But we’ll need to meet sometime this week, so I can make sure we have the story straight.”

I frown at her. “You make it sound like we made it up.”

Aurie squeezes my hand. “We know that’s not true, but there have been accusations in the media that you orchestrated all of this.”

A surprised bark of laughter falls from my lips. “Of course there have. It’s not enough that they see me as a manipulative whore, but now I’m a freaking terrorist.”

She taps a finger against the table. “Apex is pushing that agenda. I suspect that evidence will magically appear that will link you with a known terrorist organization, and that will say you manufactured the evidence against them.”

“How would I have done that?” I mumble, not really believing that this is my freaking life. “I flip burgers for a living, Aurie. Literally. I don’t… I have no clue how I would even go about doing any of that.”

She gives me a soft smile. “I know, Sorrel. And that’s what we’ll go with. It helps that the Werth, Falcone and Cordova packs are throwing their support behind you. And that Grayson Cordova brought the evidence that started all of this forward when it’s well known you were at odds with his pack. Nothing he provided had any links to you at all, besides your friendship with Sadie and Sylvie. So that’s a tremendous bonus.”

I frown. “So it’s going to be okay?”

She sighs and leans back. “I mean, I don’t think it’s going to be pleasant. I don’t have to tell you that the public is… upset with you. Apex is a beast to go against. People have been trying to bring them down for years and for years, they’ve been untouchable. And while I don’t think anything is going to come of this legally-”

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